Interview with Lamberto Pedrotti, Managing Director, and Stefano Dessena, International Director of Laboratorio Farmaceutico S.I.T. s.r.l.
A passion for pharmaceuticals The pressure to innovate and to bring to the market groundbreaking new drugs and treatments for all kinds of illnesses and diseases has resulted in a constantly accelerating spiral that even large pharmaceutical companies have to face. As a result of ongoing diversification, mergers and acquisitions, pharmaceutical companies or parts of their portfolio are for sale. This is where Laboratorio Farmaceutico S.I.T. s.r.l. comes in. The family company focuses on branded, off-patent pharmaceuticals and markets them in Europe and beyond.
considered the core of a manufac-
Mr. Pedrotti. “In the same year,
turer’s portfolio. Since the 1970s,
we set up Desma Healthcare at
the company has helped many
the head of our group, which
products start a second life cycle
focuses on the two major objec-
through brand acquisition and the
tives of acquiring well-established
takeover of formulations with listed
brands and strengthening its Eu-
registration dossier, including all
ropean network and expanding in
the relevant details on a drug’s
new potential markets.” “Desma
origin.
Healthcare has been established as our reference brand, with of-
International Director Stefano Dessena (left) and Managing Director Lamberto Pedrotti stress the company’s focus on branded, off-patent pharmaceuticals
From 2000 on, Laboratorio Farma-
fices in Germany and France and
ceutico S.I.T. has bought mature
another representative in Chiasso,
products, both in Italy and abroad,
Switzerland, while all other mar-
which can be seen as a decisive
kets are organized directly through
milestone in the company’s de-
our Italian headquarters,” says
velopment, as it opened the doors to the acquired products’ original
“We have always worked hard to
when they set up Laboratorio Far-
markets. “The next logical step
excel in the pharmaceutical busi-
maceutico S.I.T. in 1930, driven by
was the opening of new subsidiar-
ness by acquiring manufacturing,
the desire to develop pharmaceuti-
ies in Spain and Germany,” says
sales and distribution rights to
cal products. Following initial de-
off-patent brand products from
velopment, production was the
major pharmaceutical companies,”
second step in expanding the
points out Lamberto Pedrotti,
small company in the 1930s.
Managing Director and member of the Devalle-Pedrotti family,
Over the years, the company
which owns 40% of the company’s
shifted its focus from develop-
shares. Mr. Pedrotti worked as a
ment and production to the
lawyer before joining the family
acquisition and marketing of well-
company in 2009. The company’s
established brands and off-patent
founders were all keen chemists
products that no longer were
Centellase is a blood vessel protector
Laboratorio Farmaceutico S.I.T. s.r.l. Via Cavour 70 27035 Mede (PV) Italy
+39 0384 8071 +39 0384 822133
[email protected] www.sit-farmaceutici.com
The headquarters of Laboratorio Farmaceutico S.I.T. in Mede
International Director Stefano Des-
Vietnam. “We are about to conquer
various therapeutic categories.
well-known remedy for all kinds of
sena, who has been working in
the South American market. We
For instance, we supply Akineton,
injuries.
this position since January 2015.
used to be quite active there, but
a product developed for the cen-
“I was very much intrigued by the
our business partners ceased to
tral nervous system, and Kalinor,
In 2015, Laboratorio Farmaceutico
company’s portfolio and business
develop and expand our market
which prevents and treats kidney
S.I.T. ranked among the top 504
approach. I had been working for
potential. We flew in ourselves and
stones,” explains Mr. Pedrotti.
in the pharmaceutical produc-
another Big Pharma company, but
had very constructive talks with lo-
“Kalinor is a highly complex prod-
tion market. This might not be an
following a conversation with Mr.
cal distributors,” says Mr. Dessena.
uct which is hard to copy and
impressive position with regard to
Pedrotti about the aspects of my
“I think it is always important to
reproduce – probably the most
large multinationals, but the com-
work as a new ‘worldwide man-
set up close personal bonds. You
sold product worldwide, generat-
pany operates a sound internation-
ager’, I was definitely won over.
cannot just sit in your office and
ing a turnover of 17 million EUR.”
al structure and strongly focuses
This was the beginning of a very
expect everything to run smoothly,
The same is true for Akineton,
on its international presence, an
interesting new prospect in my
but instead you travel and see
which is among the company’s
important asset in this competitive
working life.”
the local situation yourself.” The
more than 85 pharmaceutical
market. “In the coming years, we
company’s vast portfolio includes
products. It is applied as an anti-
aim to increase our international
Today, Laboratorio Farmaceutico
pharmaceuticals, nutritional sup-
Parkinson’s agent, which is hard
expansion in order to compensate
S.I.T.’s products are manufactured
plements, medical devices and
to replace. “We recommend that
for any stagnation in our home
at the company’s two produc-
surgical medical products, cover-
any medical doctor should carry it,
market,” says Mr. Pedrotti. “We
tion sites in Mede near Pavia and
ing the treatment areas breathing
as it can even help save lives.” In
are about to launch two new prod-
Tavernerio near Como. Its pharma-
apparatus, disinfection, gastro-
addition, the portfolio boasts many
ucts right now for areas where
ceutical products are distributed
enterology, vein insufficiency and
OTC medications, like Centel-
there has been no medication so
as far as Taiwan, Thailand and
neurology. “We offer solutions for
lase and Trofodermin, the latter a
far. It is still very secret.”
Akineton is used as an anti-Parkinson’s agent
Centellase is available as a pill or ointment
Kalinor prevents and treats kidney stones
